Learn How to Use Groupon

Last updated: May 1, 2016 - 12:47pm EDT

Now that you’ve signed up for Groupon, it’s time to a take a look at some great deals!

Finding a Deal on Groupon

There are so many different deals that it’s best to have an idea of what you’re looking for – or at least the category it falls in. Want a good gift for your girlfriend? Try looking for a spa Groupon. Are you a car enthusiast? Check out the automotive category.

Once you get on www.groupon.com and log in, you'll be taken to Groupon's homepage. Click on any of the yellow circles () below to learn more about the different kind of deals on their homepage:

Fall Favorites

This is the seasonal section that changes periodically. It includes activities, apparel, sports, getaways, and more.

Coupons

Get online and in-store coupons and coupon codes for a variety of popular stores like Walmart, Best Buy, and Target.

Clearance

Take a look at the deals that have even better discounts! Groupon will give you an even better price than the original sale price so that they’re able to sell more before the time runs out!

Getaways

Plan a trip with Groupon for great rates on hotels, flights and activities around the world.

Goods

Groupon Goods is a way to buy a product for less. While a lot of Groupon includes services, Groupon Goods is a physical product – such as home décor, electronics and apparel.

Local

Find Groupons around you. Shop All Deals or take a look at some of the categories individually: Automotive, Beauty & Spas, Food & Drink, Health & Fitness, Home Services, Local Services, Shopping (like Groupon Goods but more local) and Things To Do (activities, classes, events and more).

Recommended for You

Great deals based on where you live or what you’ve searched.

Left Menu

A shortcut menu of categories that are local or popular.

Advertisement

Bonus deals around Groupon. This one shows a promo code that gets you an extra 15% off beauty and spa Groupons.

Search Bar

Search a keyword or phrase to see the types of deals that match your search. For example, type in “gym” and you’ll see results for deals on fitness classes, gym memberships, personal training, and more. Or type in “snowboard” to find deals on lift tickets, snowboard rentals, equipment tune-ups, and more.

When scrolling down on the home page, you’ll also be able to easily browse many unique deal categories that aren’t in the top menus. Categories like “Date Night Deals”, “Girls Night Out Deals” and “Good For Gifting Deals” are a great way to browse for whatever you’re looking for. Each category has a quick link to View All in case you’d like to see more deals in that category.

How to Read a Groupon Deal

Once you’ve found a deal, you can check out the details of it quickly and easily. As a thumbnail, Groupon will show you a few things that will help you decide whether to check it out.

Click on any of the yellow circles () below to learn the different types of information on a Groupon deal:

Italian Dinner for Two or Four

Some brief information about the deal.

Sabatino’s Ristorante

The business that is offering the deal; in this example, it’s a restaurant name.

Lytton Park

The location at which this deal is being offered.

C$124

The original value of the deal, and the currency used (in this case, it’s Canadian dollars).

From C$59

How much the Groupon costs. If there is more than one cost option, Groupon will show you the least expensive, or the starting point, cost.

If you’ve found a deal you’re interested in, select it to look at the deal in greater detail. It will show you the percentage discount, how much money you’re saving, how many people have bought it and more. On the right hand side, it will even show you how much time is left before the deal expires (note: if a deal expires on Groupon and you’ve already bought a voucher, the voucher is still valid).

By scrolling down, you’ll be able to read what you’ll get from the deal. For this example, the deal is good for one appetizer, one entrée and one dessert per person. Also enjoy an extra 10% off any bottle of wine with the Groupon. Some, like in this case, will give you a link to look at the menu available.

On the right hand side, you’ll see reviews and how many stars the restaurant has. By clicking the link, you’ll be able to read the reviews. Above this is the fine print. Always read the fine print before buying the Groupon. In this case, the Groupon expires 90 days after purchase, reservations are required, and this Groupon is good for dine-in only (no takeout).

Buying a Groupon

If you’ve decided you want the Groupon, click Buy on the right hand side. If there is more than one deal within that Groupon, choose the deal you prefer. In this case, it’s a dinner for two or a dinner for four.

As of yet, you haven’t entered billing information, so now you’ll be prompted to do so. Complete the required sections and review your purchase to make sure it’s correct. When you’re done, click Complete Order to purchase a voucher.

Shortly after, you should receive and email from Groupon confirming your purchase and giving you and printable voucher. The voucher will have all the fine print, so there’s no need to worry about remembering it from the website. If you’ve bought a ticket that has a book-by date, it will also say this on the voucher so that you can book an appointment or reservation as soon as possible.

More Groupon Tutorials

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